There's been some talk about these before. All seems very good even if the price puts them out of reach of most. I would think that the 520W model will have a similar heat output to the marginally less efficient X-460, hence the thermal design will be similar.

But, wait! There's more! The X-400 and X-460 are upgraded to Platinum as well.

While I welcome it, I would have to reserve judgement until seeing the price to know if it really is worthwhile over the X series. If the price is much higher, then there is no economic case to go for the Platinum rated model. If they've sorted out the buzzing/whining issues that some people have reported with the X series then that would also be good.

With the G-series only just being launched I do wonder if there would be a market for a G-250 or G-300 fanless model made using a fanless, downrated design of the G-360. Then there would be a fanless PSU for everyone!

With the G-series only just being launched I do wonder if there would be a market for a G-250 or G-300 fanless model made using a fanless, downrated design of the G-360. Then there would be a fanless PSU for everyone!

If so, they've to cease/discontinue X400/X460 first. Otherwise, G-300? would conflict with its product lines ...... After all, fanless PSU is a niche market .... I don't think it has enough room to accommodate 2 product lines.

Anyway, glad to see Seasonic continuing to improve/innovate high efficiency, silent PSUs. I'd grab G360 if I don't have Superflower 350 gold lying around my room.

That is what they are doing in effect. From the announcement, X400/X460 -> Platinum 400/460. Still doesn't mean the X series will cease to exist as old inventory will have to be cleared and some discount might be possible.

The G series is also in a totally different price bracket to the Platinum series, meaning that a low wattage, fanless PSU would in no way compete with the Platinum series. Trying to downrate a Platinum 400 to 300W would lose it's 80+ platinum rating most likely, hence that wouldn't fit in. A repurposed G series would however if it kept the Gold rating.

I've always leaned toward fanned supplies (as anyone that's seen me recommend the x560 semi-passive can testify). It's my conservative nature when it comes to PC builds. That said, the minimal waste heat produced by a Platinum 400W could make it a nice fit for most builds.

Personally, I deplore the marketing strategy/lifestyle that insists on a different PSU model every 100W. If it was up to me, in any line, beyond ~500W power rating, I'd allow models only if separated by at least 200W.

In other words...

200W, 300W, 400W, 500W, 700W, 1000W, 1300W -- OK

Any other models between those, not OK, taken to the back wall and disposed off by the firing squad. Get rid of 50% of all of the useless wasteful redundancy in all the world's PC PSU retail shelves.

While we're at it, ditto the endless variations in CPU models separated by the thinnest speed differences... and cameras, cars, phones, etc... Heck bring on the whole consumer industrial engine & let's run a massive purge on meaningless choices!

I remember a time (2000ish) when graphics card makers released a new high end card about once a year. It only cost £250, used about 40W and was way faster than what had come before. After 6 months they'd then introduce a variant with DDR and the option of more RAM and a cheaper version with a reduced feature set and a narrower memory bus. Prices decreased during the market life of the product and it would be replaced by something massively faster. The last time I can really say I felt like this was the launch of the Gefore 6. For the last 5 years it's just got silly. The gaps between different graphics card pricepoints are negligible, you can spend any amount of money you wish on a card as some AIB partner will have produced some version with 20MHz faster speeds and some orange graphics that approaches the card above in performance. When new cards are introduced there is no revolution and there genuinely are times when I have no interest in any of the cards available. Want a card that has the same TDP as the Geforce256? Nobody makes one.

Slightly OT, but would it even be advisable to run a fanless PSU in an environment like this in a "silent" low-airflow PC?

They do have notes in their manuals to this effect. Any of the modern fanless PSUs are OK in cooling themselves independently without airflow. However, if you box it in it would cause heat to build naturally and if you allowed heat from other components to get mix into the PSU, it would no longer be running within spec. Totally fanless systems therefore need some special arrangement of components.

The only substantial hardware change is the addition of a Hybrid/Normal fan mode switch as fitted to the Platinum range. Tighter voltage control is also promised. Details are here. Like the Platinum models the warranty on the new X-series is increased to 7 years.

I have a 520W Platinum coming my way some time next week. You should see a review before the end of the month.

How's that review going?

Sample delivery has been delayed. It was supposed to get here last Friday... but now? If it gets here in the next 36 hrs, then chances are the review will be up Thurs. If not, then next week. I am off Thurs to the Audio Engineering Society's 133rd convention, which begins Friday in San Fran.

Seasonic Platinum Fanless 520 W Power Supply ReviewSuperb. Probably the new champion here.Those room temp are insane.I'll wait for spcr review before ordering it, I know at 230V it will have even higher efficiency but i'm curious just how high Anxiously waiting for Mike's review

That is an amazingly comprehensive review, I gotta take my hat off to "cmaris" (I believe his name is Chris, I may have exchanged some emails w/ him years ago). The most technically sound, afai can tell. The author has a separate article detailing his test setup, with a list of gear that totals 33,314€. uh, yeah... Somehow, I suspect PSU testing is not all this gear is used for. There's just not enough $$ in PSU testing for web publication to justify that kind of investment.

Two points, though:

1) In case you did not notice, the input AC voltage is 230V. Hence the higher than spec'd efficiency numbers. I don't think the author mentions the use of 230VAC input anywhere in his article, just on the efficiency table.

2) In all those pages, not a single word about electronic noise -- or even its absence? Maybe those megabuck Chroma load testers drown it all out anyway...

I have the Seasonic Platinum 520 and it emits an audible buzzing that can be heard from a few feet away. The buzzing changes pitch if there is any hard drive activity. I will be returning it for the X-560.

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